China Dolls

Album: Jubilee Road (2018)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Tom Odell was thinking a lot about family when he wrote his Jubilee Road album, and he had plenty of recollections from his childhood. One of his memories was a vague one of some china dolls that used to live in his grandma's spare bathroom. With their devilish eyes and Snow White skin, they used to terrify him. He recalled to The Sun:

    "I think one night on Jubilee Road by imagination went a bit crazy, with them and I began imagining a sort of random scenario, where they came to life and got a bit out of control."

    Odell added that he's "not entirely sure what the song is about. That's something the case with songwriting, you just let the words flow out and let listeners find their own meaning."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

JJ Burnel of The Stranglers

JJ Burnel of The StranglersSongwriter Interviews

JJ talks about The Stranglers' signature sound - keyboard and bass - which isn't your typical strain of punk rock.

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Glen Burtnik

Glen BurtnikSongwriter Interviews

On Glen's résumé: hit songwriter, Facebook dominator, and member of Styx.

Dino Cazares of Fear Factory

Dino Cazares of Fear FactorySongwriter Interviews

The guitarist/songwriter explains how he came up with his signature sound, and deconstructs some classic Fear Factory songs.

George Harrison

George HarrisonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really steal George's wife? What's the George Harrison-Monty Python connection? Set the record straight with our Fact or Fiction quiz.

Steely Dan

Steely DanFact or Fiction

Did they really trade their guitarist to The Doobie Brothers? Are they named after something naughty? And what's up with the band name?